James Caan Returns to Fox to Co-Star in Comedy Pilot Fantasy ‘Life’
James Caan, 74, is set to reunite with Fox following the cancellation of his show Back in the Game in 2013. He is now signed on to co-star in the network's new pilot Fantasy Life, a sitcom series based on the memoirs of Matthew Berry, 45, one of the industry's leading and in-demand fantasy sports experts. Tim McAuliffe is penning the small-screen adaptation of Berry's vast writings both on the subject of fantasy sports and on his own experience as a TV fantasy sports analyst.
Caan joins previously confirmed cast leads Kevin Connolly, 41, and Vanessa Williams, 51. Connolly plays the role of Mitch, described as a hard-working guy who lands his ultimate dream job of hosting a fantasy football show. While becoming the star he never thought he could be, he finds himself forced to navigate office politics. Caan plays the tough and humorless Chuck, an ex-legendary football player/coach who's on Mitch's new team working on a major sports network's fantasy football league show. Chuck doesn't get fantasy football since he only played real football and for which he suffered real pain. However, Mitch eventually impresses him, so much so that he eventually learns to feel comfortable working with him. Williams plays Mitch's new boss Terry, the abrasive but compassionate SVP of Programming at the sports network.
Also confirmed in the cast are Chaz Lamar Shepherd who plays professional football player and show analyst dubbed 'MC2,' Kimberly Crossman who portrays the network president's daughter Summer Dale, and Utkarsh Ambudkar in a still undisclosed role.
Aside from starring, Connolly will also executive produce the project along with Berry, McAuliffe and Michael Rotenberg, Jonathan Berry, Greg Walter and Troy Zien of 3 Arts.
Caan's Back in the Game TV show where he co-starred with Maggie Lawson was pulled off by Fox after airing just 10 of 13 planned episodes for the pilot season. The remaining three episodes were subsequently released by the network on iTunes, Amazon and other streaming services. Despite generally positive reviews from the critics, the show failed to attract enough viewers to warrant continuation of the series.